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Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Again no comment on the workday from hell…part 1324…

I love Project Runway on Bravo…I totally agree with the choice not to eliminate somebody at the 4 and send all 4 of them to the finals…4 very different points of view, and all four have very advanced construction skills…but what do I know, the outfit that was selected as the winner tonight I thought was a piece of crap…

My other 2 fav reality shows are on right now as well, Survivor, and the Big Break…and the night Project Runway ends…Top Chef begins…you must note that of my top 4 reality shows only one is on network TV…come to think of it if you subtract network sports coverage…Survivor is the only network show I watch…the mad one is a cable junkie…

I am 2 days away from the worst couple of days of the year…year end inventory…dread…doom and gloom…it’s not that I’m not good at it…it’s not that I don’t have the skills to pull it off…but as I get older the stress of it drives me nuts…if you ever met someone who loves doing inventory…run like hell because that individual is very sick and dangerous…

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Workday sucked, no other comment…

Off day was gentle and relaxing…I have decided that Tuesday will be an eat out day…nice meal and excellent service…worship team was fun…just five tonight…the 3 kids…the leader and me…and I’m old enough to be the leader’s father, and everyone else’s grandfather…although the contemporary style of music of the worship team forces me out of the “box” and sometimes this classically trained vocalist/musician finds himself in a galaxy far…far…away…I love two things about any music…one that allows me freedom to explore any and all the harmonies I hear in my head, and two I love the intimacy and freedom that small ensembles allow…although I have the voice to sing solos, and the power to sing in large groups, mind you I enjoy both…it’s the small groups…one on a part…and the right and licenseto be free to do a little improvisation that really is fun and makes for tons of enjoyment…one of the neat things we have been doing over the last few months is doing the great hymns of the faith with an upbeat twist…and I have been able to added some old school, traditional, even liturgical twists that work…but one regret…the K-Lady is no longer singing/playing keyboards with us…her 2nd child is due almost as we speak and her hubby is do for re-assignment…she is the next in a long line of military wives that we have lost from the group and have been a joy to sing/playwith…the leader said to me tonight that when he came here, he is on staff at my local church…he figured that I might be the first member of the existing praise band that he took over to leave…and except for him and Todd I’m the last of the original group left…his focus was in a direction that I really never had gone…but I love a challenge…

Many peeps seem to have a comfort zone that it is difficult…read impossible for them to leave…but musically I seek challenges…I seek things that force me to do things that challenge my skills to the max…my absolute fav pieces of all time are those that are at the very edge or even beyond the edge of my current skill level…or styles that I have never done before…the most challenging…difficult…scary piece of classical…liturgical music I’ve every sung is the “Lord Nelson Mass” by F.J.H…and it’s my absolute fav piece of choral music…there is not one of the choral pieces in the entire work where the tenors can have a rest…and no easy entry ora piece of cake part…but the challenge is why I sing the classical master works…

But worship team, being part of the Sunday services at my local church is a different thing altogether…I am classically trained…in classical music performance is everything…but in the context of the worship team…being part of the weekly church service, although it is important to do the deal well…to get it right…the performance is secondary to “creating” an atmosphere in which the congregation can worship…can feel free to worship…to connect with the Spirit and with God…the music is not the end as it is with classical performance and rather just a means to the end…took me awhile to really understand that…

Year end inventory is upon me and I found out to day that I have at least one outbound load and maybe as many as three that I am responsible for when on Friday when I really should be supervising the year end count…and doing the things I need to do to get everything done…looks like I’m looking at a 12+ hour workday Friday and a bunch of time on Saturday as well…

(The mad one’s cats try to pull him away from the keyboard as A) he is in the process of writing another novella…and B) he is ignoring his cats in the process)

I realize that this post has stretched itself over two days…and although I started constructing it yesterday I will actually finish it and post it today or is that tomorrow…

Sunday, September 24, 2006

I awoke this AM in a very poor state physically, but had scheduled a job for to day with my clerk that is on one hand maybe the least important dollar wise for year end inventory which I must do this coming weekend, but maybe the most time consuming…I hadn’t done it last year as it was assigned to another…I figured maybe 4 to 5 hours and done…well we got it done in 7 hours and part due to the fact that my clerk is a tad anal retentive, but mostly due to the to the fact that the dude who did it last year apparently didn’t know his arse from a fine leg of lamb…not that the dollar value of inventory was greatly effected but the physical count was a shambles…

Got out at 3:30 PM…10 overtime hours this week…could have been more but as one of the lord high mucks is running computer crap tomorrow and doesn’t want numbers entered tomorrow, don’t need to go in…latest days in the plant record ends at 20 …

Got home and changed clothes and went to dinner at the just opened Ponderosa…had one in town for years but the old one is in the way of on going development and they rebuilt…and have upgraded many things…a nice plate of senior sirloin tips and the buffet…because except for the plate of tips and fries, and drink, I really serve myself…I rarely leave a tip…but my “server” tonight was most attentive so she really earned 20% of the bill…a gentle evening…

Friday, September 22, 2006

First day this whole week that I actually got out of work “on time”…tomorrow promises to be not a typical Saturday in and out…I wish it was or could be but I know it isn’t…

A weird day, on one hand the new vendor we are using for the transfer is absolutely reliable…on the other hand he managed to cut a pull out too tight and ripped the one door off of one of my trailers today…A-hat…but I problem for Monday…had more problems today then I could deal with…(note: I’m way too old and too ingrained in old school to call problems issues…. magazines have issues…the Old Testament tells me woman had issues of blood…I just have problems…major, minor and those in between…)

Why is it that although I deserve an easy day at work I never seem to get one when I need one…and tomorrow could become a real monster…I have not gotten out of work but late any day this week and with what should happen tomorrow…looks like much of the same…

But a reasonable, gentle night

The Latino tribe on survivor made what I consider to be a huge mistake tonight…that they voted of they weakest link was not a mistake…that the threw a challenge to do so…that was a huge mistake…

As with the vote of the Afro-American tribe last week they are now 3 ladies and one man, socially maybe an asset…but challenge wise…????????

We have a new phone system at work…I now have voice mail if I’m not at my desk when the phone rings…h*ll I am virtually never at my desk when the phone rings…and it seems like when I call back, they (those who left the phone message aren’t there for the call back). I may be the best “phone tag” player in the world…

I have had a very difficulty day…my arthritis has been driving me nuts...hands have been very tend and too much keyboard time hasn’t helped…whether it is the wet, damp fall weather…or the stress and physical exertion of work…who cares…I got an issue…h*ll I’ve got a problem that is driving me nuts…pain level is way past the background level I’ve dealt with for over 40 years and over the counter pain killers are not dealing with it at all…(/rant)

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

This was not a good day, work wise this has not been a good week…I’ve been forced to stay over everyday this week for one reason or another…I accept the fact of a few hours OT on Saturday and even Sunday…but over time during the week drives me nuts…especial today when the need for it was because the need resulted from a problem which was well…’nough said…I need to work way passed the normal hours this Saturday as I have year end things that need to be attended to…so I’m looking at a 50+ hour week…too old to tolerate even the thought of that…and have spent way to much time with my butt in the seat of a forklift this week so physically feel like I’ve already worked part of 17 days in a row…which I guess I have…

Sunday, September 17, 2006

A brief but very frustrating day at work, but first I stopped at Mickey-D’s for coffee and a sandwich at about a quarter after 6 and had to wait…my guess is that at that time I was first one there customer wise, got to work only to discover that the online ERP system was down, and also production needed supplies from the warehouse and the pickup is in the shop, well got the supplies back without too much problem, but when I left at just before 8 AM the website we need to access to get to are ERP software was still off line…nuts…

But has been a reasonable, gentle day since then…although I really didn’t tumble to the fact that I had no bottle of water up on the platform during worship team, and really could have used a swig…voice was a bit “rusty” today and did struggle a bit…but despite that…or maybe even because of that…everything went well…particularly during second service…

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Had one of those days that the last place I wanted to be was work, and then of course had a brutal day there…makes sense with the way things have been going that I never get what I want…but usually get what I deserve…

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

While on the way from either to the satellite warehouse or back from it today I as per usually had classic FM on…and heard what was obviously a finale from a symphony or major work that I can’t remember hearing before…as I listened to the 5 or 6 minutes of the work that the trip entails I went through a list of it sounds like…and finally said to myself no it’s got to be this composer, and as I pulled into my location…the best guess was right…even if I’ve never heard a piece I can usually guess who wrote it…but my daughter the music teacher is even better then I am at that game…

Had a blast at worship team practice tonight…or as I write this actually last evening…the N-Lady was back after a summer off…one of my fav peeps to sing with and one of my fav peeps on any level…her daughter …who is about four was there as well…cute kid who is either going to end up as a bull rider or a stunt lady…but a nice night after a very stressful day…

I have been struggling with a long distance problem at a vendors location because, a second vendor cut corners and isn’t give me what I asked for…I can deal and figure out most problems when I can “lay hands” on it …but when all I have to go on is phone calls…emails…and web based photos it drives me nuts…will work it out but after said primary vendor makes good I think I may lose their address…I feel somehow abused…and I don’t let you fool me twice…unless your young, female and have a nice arse….(hehe)

And what p*sses me off the most is that over 4 different vendors I’ve trusted this sales rep as he’s moved from job to job and on this really important one he’s left me down…on the other hand I really wonder if purchasing really followed through with this as well…ah well…a problem for another day…

But a gentle evening…although when of those nights when sleep won’t come…and although I know I will pay for it tomorrow…mind will not let me accept rest…

Saturday, September 9, 2006

So it ‘twas a non-month end Saturday…late arrival at work…(9 AM)…an hour + a bit and I’m gone to get what needed to be done this AM…sometimes I swear the dang plant is flypaper…at 1 PM I finally got everything done…just a bunch of little problems…which included the fact that (my bad) I was looking at the wrong transfer map…rats…

Needed to be into work by 6:30 AM tomorrow so the day stacks up right…. so am thinking about an early bedtime…

Thursday, September 7, 2006

I’m having one of those days that if I live to 58 I will never understand…and I am 58…I am physically drained…exhausted…but sleep and the desire for sleep evades me…I have repeated the recording of the Sanctus from the Faure Requiem at least 5 times…I need sleep…I know this for a fact but the desire for sleep is overwhelmed by…a mind that is still active…the is still whirling around in my skull…trying to figure out why jelly and peanut butter toast always lands jelly/peanut butter side down on the carpet…

Wednesday, September 6, 2006

I have had a very ugly two work days, first of all the county which we lease warehouse space from decided to redo the parking lot, has the best entrance to my docks torn all to h*ll…and never bothered to give me a heads up, I got an inbound today that was the load from the pits…called my clerk over for help…in the middle of this disaster…I get paged…I’m trying to maneuver a lopsided pallet down a ramp with 3 times the weigh on it then ever should have been placed on it…so send the clerk to check the page…he comes back…the customer service head is p*ssed because I haven’t responded to her “urgent” emails…sheeeessshhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!…

I need to get some help in my department…I have lost the ability to be in 3 places at once…

Was blown away by the result of “Project Runway” tonight…I would have sworn Laura was gone but Vincent bought the farm…I suspect that more then tonight’s challenge was involved in that vote off…

Customer service is really giving me the red arse…they have 3 peeps doing the work that maybe requires 1.75 peeps…and we have 2 peeps in my department doing 3 peeps work and I get crap because I don’t respond to a request in 3 nano-seconds…

But a gentle night…

I think I can still taste the Labor Day cook out at my daughter’s on Monday…nice time

Yesterday was the last rehearsal for worship team with the J-Guy…he’s army and is being transferred next week…will miss him greatly…

And K-Lady will be gone within a few weeks…hubby is being transferred…plus she’s 6 weeks or so from her second child…she will be missed as well…

About four weeks away from the start of rehearsals for the Christmas concerts of North Country Choral…can’t wait…a group of 150+ very good singers…and a whole bunch of great peeps…singing great music…what more can the mad one ask for…must give a hug to the leader…we have had our differences in the past…but her unexpected sympathy card when my dad pasted made my day…

Monday, September 4, 2006

it has been a quit day...a restfully day...daughter had called earlier in the week with a "Do you want to come to a cookout on Labor Day?"..."Of course "qouth I" but on one condition, you make the sides and i bring the steaks for you hubby to grill". went out late morning and found there 3 absolutely beauitiful well marbled t-bone steaks at about .8 of a pound each. She had made this very interesting salad with ham, dry italian salami, and almost every late summer , early fall veggie with a nice balsamic vinagrette...a simple plate of very nice cucumbers from her garden...but there was salt, pepper, and a nice bottle of balsamic vinigar on the table...and a very nice relish plate with some of her home canned soured and dilled veggies...a nice meal, and a very nice time...actually she had a very nice desert of an apple bread pudding...which i passed on simple because i had no room left for it...a quit, delightful day...and exactly what i needed...

Sunday, September 3, 2006

I was all set to post but cat Aggie has demanded my attestation so there will be a brief pause…

Okay I’m back …Aggie has left and I can continue…

I am wiped out…exhausted…dang near dead tonight…but a day off tomorrow…Labor Day in the U S of A…have a barbeque at my daughter’s about 3…and I need to bring the steaks…still need to purchase said steaks…must needs make a run tomorrow…but that’s tomorrow’s problem…

Over the next few weeks we will be losing some peeps in worship team that I will miss greatly…one to redeployment and one to leave for the birth of her second child and then redeployment of her hubby…both will be greatly missed for 2 very different reasons…the K-Lady and I are so in sync with harmonies that it’s like singing with myself an octave apart…and the J-Guy forces me out of the box…he sings a country/folk style that I find foreign…I come from a classical background and it is a challenge to try to blend the two different styles…a challenge I willingly accept…plus he’s a dedicated, and caring guy that I will miss…

Friday, September 1, 2006

I know that the building and grounds super was under pressure to get the new state of the art phone system deployed…but to allow that to happen on the last two fiscal days of the month…he could have at least asked whether that would create an issue with customer service and shipping…

The head of customer service I truly believe has gone over the edge…no understanding at all of the time and labor coats of what she requires of my department…h*ll with that what she demands…lost most of the morning trying to help QC get up to speed on the new spread sheet they must use…not strictly my job but I am the math/computer nerd on the floor…and the best part of today’s nightmare was that building and grounds forgot that I needed a dedicated line for my stand a lone UPS manifest computer to down load to the UPS main frame at close of day…got it solved but d*mn….why do I even spend the energy trying to explain to peeps who either ignore or forget what I’ve said 3 nanoseconds after the request has existed my mouth…(/rant)

I need to attend at work for maybe 4 hours tomorrow…with the hectic day I had got not within 100 miles of end of month inventory…or scheduling inbound materials…etc…

And with year-end just four weeks away I need to start scheduling Saturday work to get pre-count and set ready…

I sometimes wonder why I do what I do and put up with the crap of peeps who have no frigging idea of what I do and what it costs and have no respect for it…(/rant2)

And while I’m on the subject of rants…

Why does toast always fall butter side down when dropped off the plate (hehe)

About Me

i am who i am. i am a singularly individual personality...been that way for 70 years and i'm not about to start changing now....who really doesn't give a "fart in a wind storm" if you like me or what i write,

about this blog

at one time i had this blog, but decided to spin off a links blog and a poetry blog years ago ( you can find links below).........but what's left is a hodge podge of what doesn't fit in the other two....sometimes silly, sometime mundane, some times serious....so in the words of an old TV series:

"You have entered the Twilight Zone".

[Please Note: only the poetry blog still exist........so this has become a bit of more of a catch all then before......but some is now on my FB site........link is below ]

Origins

When I started blogging I needed a title for the blog, and got to thinking about an old TV sitcom "Car 54 where are you", and since I was 54 at the time, and my "good" friend BP had hung me with the nick troll....Troll54 where are you was born.......he once had commented that I was the most even temper and least bigoted person he had ever met........by that he meant, I was always in a bad mood and hated everybody.......therefore I was a troll..........after beating the carp out of him, i decided that he was probably right, the beat-down was verbal, not physical, dang the kid was 8" taller then me, I may be ornery but I ain't stupid

About the same time as the blog began, I found a game called "Blogshares" ....was in beta at the time....and now rests where internet games go when they die.......I was there for the beta......and there for its' passing.......but having looked around and viewing the players' forum.......I decide I need a persona....and to avoid the stigma of "troll", out of my warped mind the "Madtrollie" was born.....complete with a bridge and an extreme hatred of noobs.......well that developed over time.....but privately.....always sent gifts.....advice.......and at times involved them in my nefarious schemes......except as the writer of this warped blog...the Madtrollie has become more or less benign in his old age.......but beware when least expected.......

Avatars

For many years online I lived behind avatars when ever a picture was asked for, first one was a budgie on a skateboard, then there was the cat with a yamaka, then it was the parrot with a yamaka and a tallith......you can still see him wandering around this blog looking for matzah.........whether I finally came to the conclusion that at least I should show my true-self, or I lost an argument with that orthodox parrot, or the simple fact that this 70 year old man finally figured out how to use the camera that is embedded in my desktop... but the bottom line is I've decided not to hid behind avatars no more...just a hoodie and a pair of shades